Each hour that Cafferty dude on CNN poses a question to be responded to via e-mail. He asked what people thought of the governments efforts in this situation. Within 20 min. 3500 e-mailers replied with varying negative comments. The one that I thought hit the nail on the head was someone saying that with all the billions of dollars and sophisticated equipment being used in Iraq, why is it that we can't drop some bottled water on a street in New Orleans !!!

Most people don't seem to realize how large an area is effected. They think that the people on the bridge waiting for help are the only ones. The damage extends for many miles in all directions. There are hundreds of thousands in the same situation and only so many Helicopers available. From what I have heard and seen they are trying to get help there as quickly as possible but gathering that many resourses takes time. Maybe next time they will listen when they are told to evacuate. Also they would probably get help sooner if they would quit shooting at the rescue workers.

It's breaking my heart that the media is underrepresenting the chaos that's taking place down there. Police brutality, murders, rapes, not to mention the mass looting going on. CNN has mentioned this blog a couple of times, and I thought some of you might be interested: [Click]

It certainly makes me feel like whatever I do in response to these victims won't be enough, however my husband and I will be making a donation to either the Red Cross or FEMA. We're doing a little research first.

We've vacationed twice in New Orleans, it really is an unique city, rich in history and beautiful architecture. Jackson Square was especially entertaining with it's street performers, fortune tellers and interesting shops. Jackson Square was also an eye opener with numerous homeless people sleeping on park benches and rumaging through the trash for food. One incident that we incountered was humorous, yet sad, a little boy about 10 approached my sons with a basketball to hustle money. Needless to say that was one French Quarter scam that didn't work. The thought has crossed my mind in the past few days of that little boy and I have prayed that he hasn't been one of the young men I've seen looting the Foot Locker.

I do think that once it's time for the clean up to begin those who are jobless should be brought back in to help with the clean up and reconstruction. This could bring about a sense of pride that could make New Orleans once again a beautiful city to live in and visit.

The media, from the reports I've seen, doesn't seem to be reporting on how the bayou area was effected. My guess is that many lives were lost there as well. I also would guess that there are people in the bayou that weren't even aware that a hurricane was approaching. Anyone heard anything regarding the bayou?

I have been stunned by the images of the hardship that the entire American South has been enduring.

I am disgusted with the federal relief effort. To wit - the feds are saying "we can't help unless we are asked." B.S!

I think everyone should listen to the interview of the Mayor of New Orleans has to say. Don't just read the article, but listen to the audio of the only sane man in Government in the south.New Orleans mayor lashes out at feds

*** The opinions expressed herein are uniquely MY OWN and should not be construed as an endorsement of any sort by my employers or of any professional associations to which I hold membership. I can dig myself into holes just fine without their help, thank you very much***

While realizing how large the area is that is effected still doesn't fly as an excuse. We delivered water and supplies to the Tsunami disaster within hours. The hurricane hit on Monday and now being Friday, Fema is moving in. That's five days later folks. Today the Fema director said they didn't know there were people in the convention center. Wow, how come we were hearing that on CNN on day one?

I guess people aren't thinking too much about logistics. Supplies could not be shipped in , flown in or bussed in. Maybe you sould think about HOW the supplies were to get there before you go throwing accusations around about "them not being there". As far as the mayor being "the only level headed one in this crisis, he should be fired!! Not only did he PUSH blame on everyone but himself (he is the mayor & he should have been trying to help instead of fueling the fire for a bad situation & making it worse) Instead he went on TV & started swearing at the federal government instead of trying to help the situation at a local level first. I guess some people just think they are owed help instead of trying to help themselves too!!!

Where's the blame? I have read all of the posts and most, not all are blaming our government that they dropped the ball. Below is a letter that was sent to every form of local, state and federal departments, including fire, ambulance, hospitals, local government etc. This directive was sent so that we as responders would be on the same page in the event of an emergency.

December 17, 2003 Homeland Security Presidential Directive/Hspd-8 Subject: National Preparedness Purpose (1) This directive establishes policies to strengthen the preparedness of the United States to prevent and respond to threatened or actual domestic terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies by requiring a national domestic all-hazards preparedness goal, establishing mechanisms for improved delivery of Federal preparedness assistance to State and local governments, and outlining actions to strengthen preparedness capabilities of Federal, State, and local entities. Last September when the Secretary of Homeland Security sent a letter to the nation’s governors, he outlined a series of steps that must be taken and actions that should be taken in FY 2005 to become compliant with the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

In this free course required by the government states that any emergency start with the local government. Then proceed up to the federal government.

If I remember right on Aug. 26, 2005 10,000 National Guard troops are dispatched across the Gulf Coast. President Bush signs money to be released for storm relief. Federal responce

Aug 27th New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin declares a state of emergency and urges residents in low-lying areas to evacuate.

NOTE: An ordinary person out for a walk averages about 16 minutes per mile or 3.75 miles per hour. Imagine if you’re scared.

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour declares a state of emergency. A mandatory evacuation is ordered for Hancock County, 65 kilometers east of New Orleans on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Aug. 27, 2005 Fema Directory advises people of storm path to prepare for being on there own for at least 72 hours.

Aug. 28, 2005 Mayor Nagin orders a mandatory evacuation for New Orleans, but 10 shelters are also set up, including the Superdome, for those unable to leave. Evacuation orders are posted all along the Mississippi coast. Alabama Governor Bob Riley declares a state of emergency. Aug. 29, 2005 Katrina makes landfall near Buras, La., at 6:10 a.m. CT (7:10 a.m. ET). U.S. President Bush makes emergency disaster declarations for Louisiana and Mississippi, freeing up federal funds. At least eight Gulf Coast refineries shut down or reduce operations. Airports close in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, La., Biloxi, Miss., Mobile, Ala., and Pensacola, Fla.

Aug. 30, 2005 Two levees break in New Orleans and water pours in, covering 80 per cent of the city and rising in some areas to six meters deep.

Aug. 31, 2005 "At first light, the devastation is greater than our worst fears," says Blanco, Louisiana's governor. Looting grows dramatically, with people using a forklift to smash into one pharmacy. Blanco asks the White House to send more help, and New Orleans police are called off search-and-rescue missions to combat out-of-control looting.

Sept. 1, 2005 Looting, carjacking and other violence spreads, and the military decide to increase National Guard deployment to 30,000. Sept. 2, 2005 Thousands of National Guardsmen arrive in New Orleans bringing food, water and weapons: they are greeted with a mix of gratitude and rage.

Sept. 3, 2005 President Bush orders 7,200 more soldiers and marines to the Gulf Coast, and the National Guard sends an additional 10,000 as well - bringing its total to 40,000.

Is the state of Mississippi and Alabama complaining about how slow it has been for them to receive aid and rescue. NO!! Why? Because they had a emergency plan and put it into effect.

Actually one of the things I heard today is the New Orleans bears some of the blame.

From what I understand they developed an evacuation plan some years back. They had even run drills on what needed to be done. They were to use school busses to pick up those that couldn't get themselves out, etc. They were to park the busses on higher ground so that they would still be available after possible flooding.

If one of us had heard that a hurricane was on the way & would hit in 3-4 days, wouldn't we walk, crawl, drive, or call a relative to get us the heck out of the area? How many folks just sat there because they survived Camille or didn't trust their neighbors to leave their stuff alone if they left? Even Favre's brothers & mother were too dumb to get out of the way. It's not FEMA's fault that there were so many stubborn/stupid folks who wanted to guard their turf or "ride it out".

FEMA has responded as they could. Resources will be thin when dealing with a 2 state wide damage path. New Orleans/LA gov't agencies dropped the ball on the evacuation. The Mayor of NO is more responsible for the poor response to the need to evacuate prior to the storm than anyone he chooses to swear at.

It's happened. We all will help as best we can. My family has donated to The Salvation Army who is also aiding the recovery effort, but without the free publicity that the Red Cross has received. The company I work for has promised a 100% match.

But now comes the question: "Should we really rebuild a coastal city that sits below sea level?" That makes about as much sense as the folks who live on the flood plain of a river who state after they've been flooded out again: "We'll persevere & rebuild." Perhaps it's better to let the New Orleans area silt in and revert to the tidal marsh that it was originally.

Any idea where all our helicopters are? It's Day 5 of Hurricane Katrina and thousands remain stranded in New Orleans and need to be airlifted. Where on earth could you have misplaced all our military choppers? Do you need help finding them? I once lost my car in a Sears parking lot. Man, was that a drag.

Also, any idea where all our national guard soldiers are? We could really use them right now for the type of thing they signed up to do like helping with national disasters. How come they weren't there to begin with?

Last Thursday I was in south Florida and sat outside while the eye of Hurricane Katrina passed over my head. It was only a Category 1 then but it was pretty nasty. Eleven people died and, as of today, there were still homes without power. That night the weatherman said this storm was on its way to New Orleans. That was Thursday! Did anybody tell you? I know you didn't want to interrupt your vacation and I know how you don't like to get bad news.

Plus, you had fundraisers to go to and mothers of dead soldiers to ignore and smear. You sure showed her!

I especially like how, the day after the hurricane, instead of flying to Louisiana, you flew to San Diego to party with your business peeps. Don't let people criticize you for this -- after all, the hurricane was over and what the heck could you do, put your finger in the dike?

And don't listen to those who, in the coming days, will reveal how you specifically reduced the Army Corps of Engineers' budget for New Orleans this summer for the third year in a row. You just tell them that even if you hadn't cut the money to fix those levees, there weren't going to be any Army engineers to fix them anyway because you had a much more important construction job for them -- BUILDING DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ!

On Day 3, when you finally left your vacation home, I have to say I was moved by how you had your Air Force One pilot descend from the clouds as you flew over New Orleans so you could catch a quick look of the disaster. Hey, I know you couldn't stop and grab a bullhorn and stand on some rubble and act like a commander in chief. Been there done that.

There will be those who will try to politicize this tragedy and try to use it against you. Just have your people keep pointing that out. Respond to nothing. Even those pesky scientists who predicted this would happen because the water in the Gulf of Mexico is getting hotter and hotter making a storm like this inevitable. Ignore them and all their global warming Chicken Littles. There is nothing unusual about a hurricane that was so wide it would be like having one F-4 tornado that stretched from New York to Cleveland.

No, Mr. Bush, you just stay the course. It's not your fault that 30 percent of New Orleans lives in poverty or that tens of thousands had no transportation to get out of town. C'mon, they're black! I mean, it's not like this happened to Kennebunkport. Can you imagine leaving white people on their roofs for five days? Don't make me laugh! Race has nothing – NOTHING -- to do with this!

You hang in there, Mr. Bush. Just try to find some of our Army helicopters and send them there.